May 17, 2006

Weather to favour China's corn, soy and cotton crops

Normal temperatures and near to above average rain in the North China Plain this summer will be favourable for corn, soybean and cotton crop development, according to a three-month forecast by Earth Satellite's Cropcast released Tuesday (May 16).

However, soybean yields in north-eastern China could be threatened by limited moisture reserves and below-average rainfall.

"This could be an area with a possible yield loss threat," said Cropcast.

In China's sugar cane areas in the south, the forecasters also see limited shower potential.

"The sugar cane will struggle to achieve normal growth and yields may slip again," they said.